Pouring spout assembly for a dispensing container



A. J. KURTZ May 10, 1966 POURING SPOUT ASSEMBLY FOR A DISPENSING CONTAINER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec.

2 I ilk INVENTOR Albert J Kurtz Q Attorney A' J KURTZ May 10, 1966 POURING SPOUT ASSEMBLY FOR A DISPENSING CONTAINER 2 Sheets-Sheet '4 Filed Dec. 51 1963 INVENTOR. Albert J. Kurfz Attorney 3,250,436. POURINIG SPOUT ASSEMBLY FOR A DISPENSING CONTAINER Albert J. Kurtz, 97 Louise St., San Rafael, Calif. Filed Dec. 31, 1963, Ser. No. 334,7as 7 Claims. (Cl. 222-153) This invention relates generally to containers of a dispensing type such as those used with powdered, granular, or crystalline materials such as salt, sugar, flour, spices, rice, soaps and detergents, or the like. More par ticularly it relates to an improved pouring spout for use with such containers.

The general problem in this art has been to provide a method and means for rapidly producing an aperture in a container of cardboard, or similar material, from which the contents may be neatly poured out for use, but which would remain airtight until such time as it is desired to start using the contents. It is also necessary that the dispensing carton be substantially tight after the intermittent use of the contents has commenced.

Various devices have been used for his purpose. Most of these take the form of a U-shaped, three-sided, hinged member made of metal or plastic which is positioned on the top or side of the car-ton in such a manner that one of its three sides serves to keep the carton closed while together with the other two sides it forms a spout or chute when it is pulled out in the open hinged position. In general these have proved unsatisfactory in that they are diificult to keep airtight before start of use and even more difiicult to keep tight while in use. They have also proved cumbersome and expensive to manufacture and apply to a given carton. In addition, with most of existing spouts, it is necessary that part of the structure project into the interior of the carton, thus interfering with the contents thereof and making it practically impossible to apply such a spout to a carton which has been filled, or substantially filled, with material.

It is therefore an object of my invention to provide a pouring spout for a dispensing carton and method of attaching it thereto which would give greater insurance of tightness of the carton at all times.

It is another object of my invention to provide an improved pouring spout for a carton which would be easier for the consumer to use than any known at present.

It is still another object of my invention to provide a pouring spout for a dispensing carton which would be simple, compact, and inexpensive to manufacture and apply.

It is yet another object of my invention to provide an improved pouring spout which would be easy to apply to a dispensing carton without interfering with the contents thereof.

It is a more specific object of my invention to provide an improved pouring spout which would comprise a single monolithic plastic structure and a method of applying it to a carton.

Other objects of my invention will appear from the description and drawings which follow and form a part of this specification.

In the drawings:

FIG. I shows a front view of the spout assembly of my invention when in a closed position.

FIG. 2 shows an end view of the spout assembly of my invention when in an open position.

FIG. 3 shows an enlarged front view of the spout of my invention when in a closed position.

FIG. 4 shows a section on line 44 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 shows an enlarged longitudinal section through my spout assembly in an open position to illustrate its principle of operation.

United States Patent 0 FIG. 6 shows the spout assembly mounted on a carton in closed position illustrating its appearance prior to unsealing and putting into use.

FIG. 7 shows the spout assembly of FIG. 6 after breaking the seal and partially opening the pouring spout.

FIG. 8 shows thespout assembly of FIG. 6 in fully opened position and ready for use.

Referring now to the figures in which like numbers indicate like parts in each case, there is seen the body or frame of my spout assembly 1 which maybe of generally pentagonal shape. This I manufacture from plastic material such as polyethylene or polypropyene. Around the periphery of the body there is seen the slot 2 for insertion of the walls of the carton. This may be approximately 7;;2 of an inch in Width and depth depending on the requirements of the carton and the method of sealing which is employed. The hinged flap 3 forms the front of the spout and is an integral part of the body 1 to which it is joined through the plastic hinge section 4. The function of the latter is bestunderstood by reference to FIGS. 4 and 5.

The integral, plastic, folding, side flaps 5 form the sides of the spout when open and nest in or against the surface of frame 1 when closed. These may be approximately .015 inch in thickness and may comprise several folds in the manner of a bellows or accordian. In the embodiment shown there is a single fold or crease 6 to effect a pair of side flaps on either side of the spout.

The tear tab 7 which is also an integral part of my plastic structure is bounded on either edge by score marks 8 which comprise sharp grooves cut into the surface of the plastic. Before being placed in use, of course, the tear tab 7 serves to join the hinge flap 3 to the body 1. It will thus be seen that the solid plastic construction of my spout assembly provides a tight hermetic seal in the package before its use for dispensing purposes is commenced. When it'is desired to commence the latter, the tear tab 7 is pulled off, the score marks 8 assisting in providing a clean break between the tear tab and the rest of my spout structure. The opening tab 9 may then be pulled out which puts hinged flap 3 in a pouring position. The side flaps 5 which have been heretofore nestling in the recesses 10 of the body 1 will then unfold and form the sides of the spout. In some embodiments I may dispense with the recesses and merely permit the side flaps to fold up against the outer surface of the body 1.

When it is desired to stop the dispensing operation, hinged flap 3 is folded back on hinge 4and side flaps 5 return to their folded position. Notch 11 and lip 12, which are best seen on FIGS. 4 and 5 assist in holding hinge flap 3 in closed position and insure reasonable tight-' ness until the next dispensing operation is commenced, after which the foregoing steps are repeated.

While some of the above enumerated parts of the spout assembly may be fabricated or moulded separately by the use of combined heat and pressure they are joined so that they form a single monolithic plastic structure.

In attaching my spout to the carton, it may be sprung into the wall side or top thereof. This may be accomplished by having a suitable octagonal shaped hole cut into the carton blank and then springing the body or the spout assembly into this hole with the aid of the peripheral slot 2, the dimensional relations being adjusted for any given application. Where a plastic carton or carton side or top is used, the body of spout assembly may be joined to form an integral part of the carton member by the use of heat, or pressure, or both. This is true also where a plastic coated carton is used. In the case of a plain cardboard carton, the junction between the pouring spout as sembly and carton member may be made in any manner known to those skilled in the art.

FIGURES 6, 7 and 8 better illustrate the operation of my invention on a rectangular carton 13. My spout'assembly may be applied to cartons of other shapes and to the top, as well as the ends or sides.

It should now be evident to those skilled in the art that the spout assembly of my invention may be applied to a carton or carton blank during any stage of the carton forming or filling operation and may even be inserted after the carton has been filled. It should also be evident that the insertion of my spout assembly may be eifected without disturbing the contents of the carton. This is also true of the operation of my spout during dispensing, since the amount of structure which enters the interior of the carton at any time is negligible.

It will be further evident to those skilled in the art that my invention is simple, compact, and inexpensive to fabricate and install.

While I have shown a preferred embodiment of my invention above, it Will be understood that it is not so limited, but that other embodiments may be made to come within the scope andspirit of the claims which follow.

I claim: 7

1. A pouring spout assembly for a container comprisa body portion having a central opening therethrough; means for attaching said body portion to the periphery of a hole in said container and on the outside thereof;

a hinged flap positioned on said body portion and disposed to open and close said opening;

a pair of folding side flaps connecting opposite free edges of said hinged flap with said body;

said side flaps and said hinged flap defining a pouring spout when said hinged flap is in an open position;

said side flaps folding fiat against the exterior of said body when said hinged flap is in a closed position;

said side flaps being further disposed to fold outward from said opening thereby at all times remaining outside of said. container and the contents thereof;-

means for holding said hinged flap in a closed position.

2. The pouring spout assembly of claim 1 in which said assembly is of one piece, monolithic, polyethylene con struction.

3. A plastic pouring spout assembly for a container comprising:

a body portion having a hollow central opening;

means for attaching said body portion to an opening in said container and on the outside thereof;

a rectangular hinged flap, one edge of said flap being secured to said body portion so as to define a hinge and being disposed to cover and uncover said central opening;

a pair of folding flaps positioned on opposite edges of said hinged flap adjacent said hingeand secured to said hinged fiap and to said body;

said folding flaps being disposed to open and close with the movement of said hinged flap;

connecting means integral With said assembly for effecting an initially hermetic seal between said body and the edge of said hinged flap opposite said hinge;

means for removing said connecting means;

means for fastening said folding flap to said body when said flap is covering said opening.

4. A plastic pouring spout assembly for a container comprising:

a body portion having a hollow central opening;

means for attaching said body portion to an opening in said container and on the outside thereof;

a rectangular hinged flap, one edge of said flap being secured to said body portion so as to define a hinge and disposed to cover and uncover said central open- 111g;

said hinged flap forming an integral part of said assema pair of folding flaps positioned on opposite edges of said hinged flap adjacent said hinge and secured to said hinged flap and to said body;

said folding flaps being disposed to open and close with the movement of said hinged flap;

said folding flaps forming an integral part of said assembly;

said body portion and said hinged flap comprising an initially integral part of said assembly;

a breaking member in said assembly disposed between the edge of said hinged flap opposite said hinge and said body member; 7

means for detaching said breaking member from said edge of said hinged flap and from said body member;

means for fastening said hinged flap to said body when said flap is covering said op'ening.

5. In a container for granular material or the like, an

improved plastic spout for dispensing said material through a hole in the wall of said container comprising:

a hinged flap, one edge of said flap being in hinged rela- V tionship with said wall;

said flap being disposedto cover and uncover said hole in said Wall;

collapsible side flaps secured to and extending between each of two edges of said hinged flap adjacent said hinged edge and said Wall of said container;

said flaps being further disposed to fold outward from said hole thereby at all times remaining outside of said container and the contents thereof;

means for holding said hinged flap in a covered position over said hole.

6. The spout of claim 5 in whichall of said flaps are of one piece, integrally moulded flexible polyethylene construction.

7. A unitary moulded plastic pouring spout assembly for a container comprising;

a thick body member having a recess around its periphery;

said recess being adapted for securing said body member to the wall of said container and on the outside thereof;

a hole through said body member communicating with a hole in said wall;

'a hinged flap, one end of said flap being solidly jointed to said body member to form a hinged end and disposed to cover and uncover said hole;

a pair of thin triangular folding flaps;

a first side of each of said triangular flaps being solidly joined to and along the entire length of each of the two sides of said hinged flap adjacent said hinged end; a second side of each of said triangular flaps being solidly joined to said body member along the entire length of said second side; the vertex of the angle formed by said sides of each of said triangular flaps being positioned against opposite extremeties of said hinged end; a removable tab tightly sealing the end of said hinged flap opposite said hinged end to said body member; means for removing said tab; means for holding said hinged flap in a position covering said hole when said tab is removed.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS.

2,288,042 6/1942 Spilman 222528 2,629,512 2/ 1953 Quillinan 215-42 X 2,713,956 7/1955 Everett 222532 2,986,309 5/1961 Larson 222-480 3,002,674 10/1961 Wright 22951 3,016,168 1/1962 Larson 222480 X 3,048,299 8/1962 Hutchinson 22054 3,101,870 8/1963 Betner 222541 3,154,226 10/1964 Petitto 222528 RAPHAEL M. LUPO, Primary Examiner. 

5. IN A CONTAINER FOR GRANULAR MATERIAL OR THE LIKE, AN IMPROVED PLASTIC SPOUT FOR DISPENSING SAID MATERIAL THROUGH A HOLE IN THE WALL OF SAID CONTAINER COMPRISING: A HINGED FLAP, ONE EDGE OF SAID FLAT BEING IN HINGED RELATIONSHIP WITH SAID WALL; SAID FLAP BEING DISPOSED TO COVER AND UNCOVER SAID HOLE IN SAID WALL; COLLAPSIBLE SIDE FLAPS SECURED TO AND EXTENDING BETWEEN EACH OF TWO EDGES OF SAID HINGED FLAP ADJACENT SAID HINGED EDGE AND SAID WALL OF SAID CONTAINER; SAID FLAPS BEING FURTHER DISPOSED TO FOLD OUTWARD FROM SAID HOLE THEREBY AT ALL TIMES REMAINING OUTSIDE OF SAID CONTAINER AND THE CONTENTS THEREOF; MEANS FOR HOLDING SAID HINGED FLAP IN A COVERED POSITION OVER SAID HOLE. 